Ligature for a mouthpiece with a reed in a musical instrument



J y 1970 FusAo SATO' LIGATURE FOR A MQUTHPIECE WITH A REED IN A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed June 11, 1968 3,521,517 LIGATURE FOR A MOUTHPIECE WITH A REED IN A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Fusao Sato, Hamamatsu-shi, Japan, assignor to Nippon 'Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha, Hamamatsu-shi, Japan, a corporation of Japan Filed June 11, 1968, Ser. No. 736,197 Claims priority, application Japan, June 23, 1967, 42/ 53,523 Int. Cl. G10d 9/02 US. Cl. 84-383 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A ligature is provided with a lever with a cam which is adapted quickly to engage a reed with a mouthpiece at the resting face thereof and disengage it therefrom.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a ligature for engaging a reed with a mouthpiece in a woodwind musical instrument such as a saxophone and a clarinet.

Hitherto, it was necessary for the player to fit a large number of reeds in his possession one by one to the resting face of the mouthpiece and while repeatedly making a trial play, select the one which was deemed to suit the environment in which performance was to be carried out or the physical condition of the player himself at that time. It was also required to adjust the position of the reed on the restingface of the mouthpiece.

However, the prior art ligature had screws bridging both ends of the band so as to engage a reed with a mouthpiece at the resting face thereof with an appropriate tension. Such screw mechanism presented difficulties in causing the reed quickly to be engaged with or disengaged from the mouthpiece, though the prior art device permitted reeds of different thickness to be fitted. Inconveniences resulting from the use of the screw mechanism caused the player to consume much time in the selection and adjustment of the reed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide an improved ligature so as to meet the requirements of quickly engaging the reed with the mouthpiece.

In an aspect of this invention, a ligature for engaging a reed with a mouthpiece in a woodwind musical instrument comprises a band surrounding the mouthpiece which sets a reed on its resting face, a frame bridging both ends of the band, a lever provided with a cam rotatable around its axis and movably disposed in the frame, and means for adjusting the position of the lever axis relative to the resting face of the mouthpiece.

Another object of this invention is to insert a pressure plate between the lever and reed so as to avoid the undue displacement of the reed in operating the lever for clamping the reed, prevent the surface from being scarred by the abrasion of the lever cam and uniformly spread the lever pressure over the reed.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ligature of this invention surrounding a reed-bearing mouthpiece of a saxophone; and

FIG. 2 is a side view of the ligature surrounding the reed-bearing mouthpiece, showing in section the details of the ligature.

United States Patent ice DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIGS. 1 and 2 indicate the mouthpiece 1 of a saxophone. The mouthpiece 1 is made of metal or ebonite, and has a bore 2 communicating with a neck pipe (not shown) removably engaging therewith. The mouthpiece 1 is further provided with a flat face 3 for resting a reed 4 and an inlet port 2a so formed therein as to open at the resting face 3 and communicate with the bore 2. A ligature 5 for attaching the reed 4 to the mouthpiece 1 includes a band 6 surrounding the mouthpiece 1 carrying the reed 4, a frame 7 bridging both ends of the band 6 and facing the resting face 3, and a lever 8 having a cam 9 rotatable around the axis of the lever 8. The cam 9 is integrally formed with the lever 8 and movably disposed in the frame 7. The frame 7 is shaped into a stepped box. There is provided a square aperture 10 on the top of the box, and a slit 11 on the vertical wall 7a facing the front step. On the two side walls of the box disposed perpendicular to the step there is perforated a vertically long hole 12. The frame 7 is further provided with two flanges 7b integrally formed with the box so as to project from the tops of the side walls of the box toward the aperture 10. In the frame 7 is further provided a pressure plate 15 to be positioned under the earn 9 and on the reed 4.

The cam 9 has a camming surface formed around the axis of the lever 8. From both sides of the cam there is projected a pivot 13 positioned in the hole 12 so as to define the axis of the lever 8. The lever 8 is extended out of the box through the aperture 10. An adjusting plate member 14 is inserted into the box through the slit 11 in such a manner as horizontally to slide on the step. The adjusting plate member 14 has two forked portions 14a each formed into a wedge progressively thickening toward the rear end. Each of the portions 14a overlies on the upper side of the pivot 13 and has a lower surface tilted with respect to the resting face 3 and an upper surface containing with the lower surface of the flange 7b.

In the operation, the lever is first positioned as shown in a dotted line in FIG. 2 and then the reed is located exactly between the pressure plate and the mouthpiece. Pushing down the lever as indicated in a solid line in FIG. 2, the periphery of the cam is forced on the pressure plate and then the reed is pressed on the mouthpiece so as surely to be attached to or set on the resting face 3. In this case, the tilted lower surface of the adjusting plate member 14 is contacted with the upper side of the pivot to prevent the pivot from its upward motion along the hole 12. The adjusting plate member 14 enables the upper limit of the pivot to be defined by sliding it in a direction parallel to its length. Accordingly, the distance between the pressure plate and the mouthpiece is changeable to permit reeds of different thicknesses to be fitted as required.

Furthermore, the present invention always enables the reed to be easily and quickly fixed in the best position and with the most appropriate magnitude of force only by the action of the lever, so that it permits a woodwind musical instrument to be played in best conditions for performance.

While the invention has been described in connection with some preferred embodiments thereof, the invention is not limited thereto and includes any modifications and alterations which fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A ligature for engaging a reed with a mouthpiece in a woodwind musical instrument comprising a band surrounding the mouthpiece which carries a reed on its resting face, a frame bridging both ends of the band, a lever provided with a cam rotatable around its axis and movably disposed in the frame, and an adjusting member of non-uniform thickness for adjusting the position of the lever axis relative to the resting face of the mouthpiece.

2. A ligature for engaging a reed with a mouthpiece in a Woodwind musical instrument claimed in claim 1 in which there is provided a pressure plate disposed between the cam and the reed.

3. A ligature for engaging a reed with a mouthpiece in a woodwind musical instrument claimed in claim 1 in which the adjusting member is formed of an adjusting plate member having Wedge shaped portions.

4. A ligature for engaging a reed with a mouthpiece in a woodwind musical instrument claimed in claim 2 in which the adjusting member is formed of an adjusting plate member having wedge shaped portions.

4 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,085,684 2/1914 Hershey 84-383 FOREIGN PATENTS 609,043 8/ 1926 France. 828,226 5/1938 France.

0 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

L. R. FRANKLIN, Assistant Examiner. 

